Perfect Recipe For School Tax Is Finally Here

School supporters are heading toward the September sales-tax referendum, backed by an unprecedented juggernaut of politicians and business interests.

This unified front is unprecedented, given the fractured nature of local politics. The secret? Everybody gets something.

Homeowners get a small cut in their property taxes meant to soothe elderly voters, conservatives and homeowner associations. By shifting the burden for school improvements to the sales tax, the measure makes tourists pay a larger share.

That's a very popular concept around here.

A small break for homeowners equals a big one for large landowners. The half-cent sales-tax increase is projected to last 14 years. During that time, the corresponding cut in property taxes would save Disney $35 million if land values stayed stagnant.

The tax has other benefits for the tourism industry.

The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association fear that public pressure eventually may result in state lawmakers' allowing schools to tap into the resort tax. Currently all that money is used to bring in more tourists. Providing schools with an alternative pot of money helps tourism people protect their stash.

Developers, homebuilders and real estate agents likewise understand that if the $2 billion needed to improve schools doesn't come from a sales tax, it might come from some form of real estate tax or impact fee.

Politicians, meanwhile, are reading polls that show people want better schools and are willing to pay for them. Surrounding counties have solidly backed similar referendums. Local leaders are in the rare position of not only being out in front of a popular issue, but also pleasing the big-money special interests.

All this isn't to demean the referendum. This is the way things get done in the real world. At least a just cause is being served this time.

If the referendum fails, Orange County schools will continue to deteriorate, crippling any attempt to improve the quality of life here and diversify the economy. And if you want to know the value of good schools, look at skyrocketing prices for homes in the Dommerich school district in Maitland.

JEB EARNS HIS MONEY

It's obvious that Jeb Bush doesn't consider Janet Reno a threat. Otherwise he would not have signed the billboard proliferation act. There is no way a candidate who considered himself vulnerable would have so blatantly sold out the interests of his state.

Cities now have no ability to remove the worst of these eyesores unless they pay millions to the industry.

I chide him often but generally have felt Jeb tries to do the right thing. Now I know better. The billboard industry, which has donated lavishly to Republicans, spent wisely.

SETTLING AN OLD `DEBT'

Dear Mike: The drive for reparations is nothing more than legal blackmail. The "debt" was long ago paid by the 2,800,000 Union soldiers who fought a terrible war to free 429,401 slaves. More than 700,000 of the soldiers died, but I do not hear any talk about "reparations" for their descendants.

L.G. Caryl

Dear L.G.: It's pretty obvious that the South gave the North the state of Florida for reparations.